Hawthorne council approves master ground lease assignment to Archer amid resident noise concerns

The Hawthorne City Council voted to approve the execution of a new master ground lease assignment to Archer Airport Ground Lease LLC and Archer Airport Improvement LLC on Nov. 12, 2025, after several hours of public comment and a company presentation.

Residents pressed the council for details about alleged financial impacts and possible testing at Hawthorne Airport. One resident cited a figure of $126,000,000 and said the city’s supporting documents that stated “no fiscal impact” were confusing and deserved clarification. Councilmembers also raised questions about noise, emissions and overnight operations.

Archer representatives told the council the company would hold a leasehold interest and would not own the airport. An Archer spokesperson said the company’s Midnight electric aircraft is designed to be low‑noise and produce zero local operating emissions, and added that the company conducts flight testing in a remote location (Salinas), not at Hawthorne. "We will not be doing testing of aircraft in the Hawthorne locations," the representative said during the presentation.

Levi Stockton, managing partner of Hawthorne Airport LLC, explained that his firm holds the master lease that controls airport operations other than the runway and taxiway; he said the lease was originally approved by the city in 2005 and has approximately 30 years remaining (expires in 2055). Stockton described past private investment at the airport—hangar construction, tenant growth and on‑site businesses—and said the current transaction represents a transfer of leasehold responsibilities rather than a conveyance of airport ownership.

Councilmembers repeatedly urged clear lease provisions to protect nearby residents. One council member asked staff to include limits on commercial flights between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., citing hours of operation policies adopted in comparable jurisdictions. Several speakers asked who would pursue FAA grants for noise abatement once the lease is executed; Archer and city staff said the city and operator could pursue FAA funding together as part of noise mitigation efforts.

After discussion the council made and seconded a motion to approve the assignment; the clerk announced the votes and stated "voting reflects Mayor and Council voting yes," approving the measure. The council did not record a detailed roll‑call of individual yes/no votes in the public announcement.

The council’s action authorizes the city manager to execute documents necessary to implement the assignment, including a consent to assignment and a landlord estoppel certificate. The city attorney and staff said the assignment will be implemented through documents that preserve the city’s ownership of the airport and specify the operator’s responsibilities.

The council’s approval is procedural: it authorizes the lease assignment and related documents. Next steps named during the meeting included community engagement by Archer, follow‑up on FAA coordination, and staff work to identify any lease terms that address overnight operations and community noise mitigation.

Council members and staff encouraged residents with specific concerns to continue engagement with staff and federal aviation authorities; staff reiterated that FAA rules govern many operational limits and that the city would work with the FAA and the new leaseholder on mitigation opportunities.